John Caspar Lavater

William Blake

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a head-and-shoulders profile portrait of a man facing left. His posture is upright, and his head is slightly turned to the left, emphasizing the side of his face. The man has distinct facial features, with a prominent nose and pronounced chin. His hair is wavy and pulled back, partially covered by a cap that fits snugly to his head. He is wearing a coat over a collared shirt with a cravat or scarf tied around his neck. There are no visible pieces of jewelry, and he holds no objects. The background consists of a subtle circular pattern, rendered in a lighter shade to highlight the subject. The entire setting appears to be a stylized illustration, possibly etching, rather than a photograph.